Alex Wennberg is still feeling his and Sweden\u2019s Olympics quarterfinal loss to the United States.<\/p>\n
\u201cRight now, it\u2019s tough to reflect on it,\u201d Wennberg, who got back to San Jose on Friday, told San Jose Hockey Now.<\/p>\n
Sweden\u2019s results in group play against Finland and Slovakia meant they were third in the group, setting up the tougher-than-usual quarters match-up with eventual gold medal winner US on Feb. 18. He added that Sweden didn\u2019t play their best in the important moments of the tournament.<\/p>\n
Wennberg said there weren\u2019t a lot of opportunities to experience everything the Olympics had to offer \u2013 Sweden played five games in seven days, and in Milan, the hockey teams were separate from any of the outdoor sports in Cortina and the surrounding mountains.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were there for one job, to focus on that,\u201d Wennberg said.<\/p>\n
But now, his focus is on the San Jose Sharks, and the team\u2019s playoff push.<\/p>\n
Wennberg said the Olympics felt like playoff hockey, with everyone stepping up to a high level, and he wants to bring that back to San Jose.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s four of us that played Olympics,\u201d Wennberg said. \u201cYou bring that pace, that energy, and that vibe and get the other guys involved.\u201d<\/p>\n
So the main focus for Wennberg was hockey, but he did still have a couple moments to take it all in.<\/p>\n
His parents, wife, and kids all made the trip to the Milan to watch him represent his country. Wennberg said his kids are \u201cobsessed with hockey right now.\u201d<\/p>\n
His kids are also big Macklin Celebrini fans. His wife Felicia had joked that his children\u2019s allegiances were divided between their dad and the young San Jose Sharks superstar. But without a Canada vs. Sweden matchup, their loyalty was never tested.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey were eager about Team Sweden, but every time Mack played they were always excited. My [four-year-old] son knows he\u2019s wearing 17, so every time he saw him on TV, he was screaming and yelling for him. It\u2019s awesome to see that he\u2019s a big fan of Mack.\u201d<\/p>\n
But beyond the hockey, Wennberg said the Swedes were most excited to watch their country dominate in the skiing events. Sweden finished seventh in the medal count, with 18 total medals and 8 golds. Every medal came in either a ski event or a curling event.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were sitting in the locker room watching them,\u201d Wennberg said. \u201cWe would have loved to watch them live, but with the travel, it didn\u2019t work out.\u201d<\/p>\n